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Route · About 2 weeks

Andaman Coast

Rainforest, limestone and island beaches

This one stays in the south, so you trade a long flight north for more time in the water. Khao Sok breaks up the beaches with a few days of rainforest.

Good for: Travelers who want beaches and nature, and don't need the north on this trip.

Stop by stop

  1. A clock tower building in Phuket Old Town Phuket Old Town 3 nights · Phuket Fly into Phuket and stay near the old town or a beach.

    Road Bus. About 4 hours from Phuket to Khao Sok. Buses run about hourly, with the last one leaving Phuket around 14:00.

  2. Khao Sok National Park Khao Sok National Park 3 nights · Surat Thani Rainforest around the village, or a night on Cheow Lan Lake.

    Road Minibus and boat. One minibus a day leaves Khao Sok at about 08:30 for Krabi, about 3 hours. Then take a boat to Railay, which has no road access.

  3. Railay Railay 4 nights · Krabi Limestone cliffs and beaches, with climbing if you like.

    Boat Boat and van. Take a boat back to the mainland, then a van to Ko Lanta. Vans from Krabi airport take about 2.5 hours.

  4. Ko Lanta Ko Lanta 3 nights · Krabi Slow down for the last few days.

Getting home: Vans run back to Krabi airport, so leave a spare night before a long flight home. Boats depend on the weather, and the Andaman's main season starts in November.

Our advice: Khao Sok means two places: the village by the park entrance, and floating lodges on Cheow Lan Lake, reached by boat from Ratchaprapha Pier. Check which one you're booking.

Nights are our suggestion. Transport comes from Wikivoyage and our Thailand by Train guide, checked November 2026. Schedules change, so check before you book.

When to go

Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun): best Dec to Mar.

  1. Jan Best
  2. Feb Best
  3. Mar Best
  4. Apr Good
  5. May Mixed
  6. Jun Avoid
  7. Jul Avoid
  8. Aug Avoid
  9. Sep Avoid
  10. Oct Mixed
  11. Nov Good
  12. Dec Best

Month-by-month guide

Other routes

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